English Explanatory Dictionary

goal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A result that one is attempting to achieve.
  2. In many sports, an area into which the players attempt to put an object.
  3. The act of placing the object into the goal.
  4. A point scored in a game as a result of placing the object into the goal.
  5. A noun or noun phrase that receives the action of a verb. The subject of a passive verb or the direct object of an active verb. Also called a patient, target, or undergoer.
verb
  1. To score a goal.

Pronunciation

/ɡəʊl/ [ɡɒʊɫ] /ɡɒl/ /ɡɐʉl/ /ɡoʊl/ [ɡoɫ] en-us-goal.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-goal.wav

Word forms

goal goals goaling goaled

Etymology

From Middle English gol (“boundary, limit”), from Old English *gāl (“obstacle, barrier, marker”), from Proto-West Germanic *gailu, from Proto-Germanic *gailō (“crevice, gap”); compare the Old English's derivatives Old English gǣlan (“to hinder, delay”), and hyġegǣls (“hesitating, slow, sluggish”), hyġegǣlsa (“slow one, sluggish one”). Possibly cognate with Lithuanian gãlas (“end”), Latvian gals (“end”), Old Prussian gallan (“death”), Albanian ngalem (“to be limping, lame, paralyzed”), ngel (“to remain, linger, hesitate, get stuck”).

Synonyms

object of desire objective purpose aspiration aim end goal intention object success target telos ambition

Related words

campaign cause crusade drive movement

Derived words

antigoal any hole's a goal away goal basketball goal captain's goal consolation goal distal goal drop goal dropped goal empty-net goal end goal field goal → field goal percentage ghost goal goal area goal attack goal average goalball goalbound goalbox goal cage goal celebration goal contribution goal defence goal difference goal-directed goaler goalfest goalframe goal-getter goalgetter goalhanger goalie goalish goal judge goalkeeper goal kick goalkicker goalkicking goalless goal line goal-line goal machine goalminder goalmouth goalodicy goal-oriented goalpost → move the goalposts goalscorer goalscoring goal setting goal shooter goalside goalsneak goalsquare goal square goal suck goal-suck goaltend goaltender goaltending
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